Combined toothbrush and dental floss holder



'Dec. 3, 1929.

A. M. c. OL IVER COMBINED TOOTHBRUSH AND DENTAL FLOSS HOLDER Filed Nov. 10, 1927 Q/ 45 Inventor 1 7 J1. CUfVa r,

14 ttorngy Patented Dec. 3, 1929 STATES ANNIE MAY CUNNINGHAM OLIVER, OF RANGER, TEXAS COMBINED TOOTHBRUSH AND DENTAL FLOSS HOLDER Application filed November 10, 1927.

My invention relates to improvements in a combined toothbrush and dental floss holder, wherein the toothbrush is provided with a hollow handle portion within which a 5 supply of dental floss is contained, and means associated with the toothbrush handle whereby the floss may be fed from the interior of the handle for use.

The purpose of my invention is to eliminate the necessity that dental floss be used as a separate article for cleaning the teeth, in that I provide an ordinary toothbrush with a hollow handle portion, wherein a spring member may be disposed having a supply of dental floss 15 convoluted thereon.

An important object of my invention resides in providing a particular cap member for secure relation within the open end of the handle, and having means thereon whereby 3-3. a section of the floss may be supported and thus be employed for cleaning between the teeth.

Another object is noted in the manner in which the floss is temporarily retained in sup- ;1 ported position while the teeth are being cleaned.

Still another object is realized by the ease with which the floss may be fed from the hollow handle and disposed in position for to service.

Other very novel objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the same is better understood from the specification and claims to follow.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the toothbrush in longitudinal detail section, disclosing the manner in which the supply of dental floss is disposed within the hollow handle of the brush.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the improved device taken substantially on line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sec- 7 tion at the open end of the hollow handle, the

same being of a larger view, and

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the dental floss holder, the same being shown in stranded position.

Now for a more detailed explanation or" my Serial No. 232,435.

invention I now refer to the drawings in which like numerals designate like parts of same. My improved combined toothbrush and dental floss holder consists of a tooth brush provided with the conventional bristle brush head 1. The handle portion 2 is hollow throughout its length, being open and internally threaded at its free end. A cap 3 is provided with a reduced threaded nipple 1 adapted for threaded relation within the threaded open end of the hollow handle. This cap is formed with a longitudinally disposed tube 5 having an opening through its side wall adjacent the outer end thereof. A bore 6 extends through the cap, connecting the interior oi the hollow handle with the interior of the tube. An angularly disposed arm 7 has its outer end portion 8 bent into substantial parallelism with the tube. 5.

Slightly inwardly from the extremity of this 5 parallel portion, an opening is formed, while the end portion of the arm is split at 9, as is clearly shown in Figure 3. This split extends from the extremity of the arm to communicate with the opening therein, whereby the furcation formed thereby may be sprung apart for the purpose of inserting the dental floss within the opening.

A substantially hair pin shaped floss holder 10 has its end portion bent inwardly as at 11.

The threaded hook member 12 is adapted to be threaded into the brush holder at the inner end of the hollow handle, in a manner clearly shown in Figure 1. The bight portion 13 of the dental floss holder is adapted to engage the hooked head of the member 12, so that when the dental floss has been properly convoluted thereupon, and during the operation of feeding the same through the tube 5, the floss holder cannot be longitudinally moved within the hollow handle.

A slightly modified form of a cap is disclosed-in Figure 3, wherein the cap 14 is formed with a reduced threaded nipple 15 for threaded engagement within the threaded opening of the hollow handle. The cap is formed with a longitudinally threaded bore in which is adapted to be disposed the threaded end portion of an elongated tube 16. This tube is provided with an angularly disposed arm 17, while its outer end portion is bent in substantially spaced parallelism to the tube 16. The outer end of the arm is slit inwardly whereby the furcations thus formed may be forced apart to permit the insertion of the dental floss in disposing the same in supported position.

It will be vseen that when the floss .is fed through the tube 5 it is looped through the opening adjacent the outer end thereof to form a securing loop, whereby an additional supply of the floss will be prevented from being pulled from the hollow handle. The end portion of the-floss is then disposed within the opening at the end of the handle 7. The person using the floss may now engage the remaining end portion of the floss against the adjacent end portion of the hollow handle,

whereby the portion of the floss spanning between the tube 5 and the end of the arm 7 will be maintained taut. In this position the floss may be effectively employed for cleaning the teeth. 7

While I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the shape of the variou's parts of my device may be made without in any way departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 7

Havingthus described my invention, what I claim as new is: e

1. A dental floss holder comprising a hollow'body a hair pin shaped member secured within the hollow body and on which the floss is adapted to be tensionally retained and from which thesame may be drawn through an opening in the hollow body.

2. A. dental'floss holder comprising a hollow body, a hair pin shaped'member located withinrthe body and connected at its bight portion to one end of the body, the end ot said member beingconverged to facilitate the drawing off of the floss therefrom.

Intestimony whereof I afiix my signature.

Mrs ANNlE MAY CUNNINGHAM OLIVER. 

